The thing about love...
Disclaimer: Konomi-sensei, please please share the POT boys with me (:
Warning: And please let me pair them up ne!
author's note: GOMENASAI! I apologize for the long wait... This is my self-study week ne, because the following week is my EXAMS week -shudders- I hope to update one more time before next week comes so cross your fingers that I will find inspiration to finish chap 11 alright! Here we go, chap 10! Enjoy yourself ne! As usual, replies after the chapter ne! -hearts, hugs, kisses and TEZUKAFUJI BURNING LOVEE-
Chapter 10
Pausing at one of the tables to make small talk with some of the Rikkai Dai boys, Fuji's eyes never stopped taking stock of where Tezuka was and what Tezuka was doing. At the moment, his buchou seemed deep in conversation with Tachibana, holding a cup of fruit punch that he sipped from time to time.
Realising that his gaze was distractedly fixed upon the cup's destination; namely, Tezuka's stubborn lips, Fuji hurriedly tore his eyes away from his buchou and returned his attention to the conversation.
Yukimura cast a glance in Tezuka's direction, then gave Fuji a gentle smile before saying, "It's such a pity Tezuka-san has to leave… I'm sure you…your team will miss him very much, right?"
Nodding, Fuji excused himself and headed to the kitchen. The noise from the living room and dining area reverberated in his head; it was as though a miniature rock band was having a play fest inside his skull. Supporting himself against the counter, Fuji sighed and willed the pain away.
Today was supposed to be perfect, and he had to be on hand to make sure that it was; he couldn't afford to give in to the wiles of his pounding headache just yet.
"Fujiko-chan! Why are you hiding in here?! Go out and join the party!" Eiji called out as he hopped excitedly around Fuji, obviously forgetting that he was holding a drink.
"AHH! Gomen gomen!" The drink had splattered onto the counter and some of it seeped onto Fuji's shirt.
"Daijoubu… If you'd help me clean up here, I'll go change my shirt ne?" Smiling at his best friend, who'd already started wiping the counter furiously, Fuji made his way up to his room.
Pulling his shirt off, he looked at his watch again. An hour and forty minutes. Exactly one hundred minutes before Tezuka had to leave for the airport, and he hadn't yet had a chance to speak to his buchou alone. His heart gave a wretched squeeze.
Jumping a little when the door opened suddenly, he turned to find Tezuka staring straight at him, his hand resting on the doorknob.
"Te-Tezuka? What are you doing up here? Shouldn't you be downstairs enjoying yourself?" Fuji was sure Tezuka could hear his rapid heartbeat and held his clean shirt tightly against his bare chest, trying to muffle the thumping sound that seemed to echo throughout the room.
Instinctively following Fuji's hand motion, Tezuka realized what he was looking at and quickly angled his head so his gaze fell on Fuji's face. It didn't do him any better, Tezuka thought as his blush deepened even more after catching sight of Fuji's feminine features.
"Eiji sent me to bring you down…" Tezuka managed to speak once Fuji pulled the shirt over his head and covered up his source of distraction and embarrassment.
"Souka… This is the third time you've been in my room the past week ne… Feels awfully strange to think that after today, your presence might not grace my room anymore…" Fuji stared past Tezuka for a few seconds before heading to the door.
Grabbing Fuji's arm, Tezuka looked at his friend in all his seriousness and asked, "What makes you think I won't come back?"
Fuji didn't hesitate in his respond.
"Even if you came back, everything would be different, ne? You'd be too busy and too famous… You probably wouldn't be able to visit anyone without stirring up a huge commotion…"
"What makes you believe all that?" Tezuka continued, his hold on Fuji's arm gentle, but unyielding.
"Because I believe in you, Tezuka-sama." Fuji didn't smile this time, all his faith in Tezuka clearly showing through in the stormy blue of his eyes. Tezuka caught Fuji's conviction in that heated gaze the latter was directing at him, but he also caught a hint of something akin to sadness.
"Make sure you don't fail my expectations ne Tezuka?" Fuji eased out of Tezuka's grasp and proceeded to join everyone in the living room for the party when he heard Tezuka's soft but confident reply from behind him.
"I won't."
Feeling as though his heart had scattered into pieces, Fuji plunged into the crowd, desperate to put as much distance as possible between Tezuka and himself.
/thethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutloveis\
Finding solace in the empty kitchen seconds later, Fuji felt his vision blur all of a sudden. He clutched the table in helplessness as he tried hard to bring his vision back to focus. He knew that something was wrong with himself, ever since that fateful hit, but he had to hold it back until Tezuka left and he could allow himself to curl up into a ball of self-pity at the hospital.
"Nya! Where's that Fujiko again? It's time to cut the cake!" Eiji's voice traveled to Fuji's ears and he hurriedly shook off the vestiges of darkness surrounding the corner of his eyes as the kitchen door opened and Eiji and Oishi stepped in.
"Fujiko! You're hiding here again nya! It's time for buchou to cut the pretty cake ne! Then we can all eat! Haiyaku Fujiko-chan!" Eiji's eyes sparkled as Oishi gave him a hand in carrying the large cake out into the living room.
Everyone made way as Eiji and Oishi set the cake down on the table and Momoshiro led a blindfolded Tezuka toward his specially ordered cake.
"TA DA!" Whipping off Tezuka's blindfold, Oishi chuckled as he saw the look of surprise on his buchou's face.
"Make a speech nya buchou!" Eiji called out.
"Ano… Minna-san, hontoni… Arigatou gozaimashita."
Bursting out into wails, Momo hung onto Echizen as he spoke.
"Yahhh… I never thought I'd say this, but I'll miss you ne buchou! I'd gladly run rounds just for you to stay…"
In moments, Eiji had joined Momo in a sobbing competition. Oishi dabbed his eyes gently, while Kawamura stood quietly at the side with Kaidoh, both looking rather down. For once, Inui was not taking notes; rather, he was busying himself arranging the paper plates and forks, making sure each set was placed perfectly.
Fuji observed all this with absolutely no sign of emotion. His usual smile was missing, but no other expression was present on his delicate face.
"Won't you do us the honour of making the first cut on the cake, Tezuka?" Fuji found his voice amidst all the commotion and asked.
"Aah…"
Picking up the plastic knife, Tezuka quickly read the message on the cake before slicing it slowly.
'And he's cutting me up inside too… Does he know?' Fuji thought as he took the knife from Tezuka and gave his buchou a small smile as he continued the task of slicing the cake into enough pieces for everyone present.
Passing around slices of the excellent cake, everyone chatted amiably as the Seigaku regulars pulled themselves together and became rowdy once again.
Minutes later, empty plates were piled into the garbage bags and Oishi had gathered everyone for the present opening session.
"Save our team's for the last ne Tezuka?" Fuji said gently.
Tezuka nodded.
Fuji looked through the substantial pile and picked a box, handing it to Tezuka, who was seated beside him on the sofa.
"That's from us Tezuka-san!" Mizuki shouted out, earning himself a glare from Fuji.
Opening the wrapping carefully, Tezuka found himself looking at a pair of brand new tennis shoes in his exact size.
"I see you haven't stopped taking data, Mizuki-kun…" Inui's glasses gleamed as he looked at the St. Rudolph boy.
"Arigatou gozaimasu… I've been meaning to get a new pair of shoes." Tezuka gave a short bow in their direction.
Fuji passed him Hyotei's package next, remembering the elegant silver of the wrapping on the box Atobe dropped into his arms.
It was a sports jacket.
"It's limited edition you know." Atobe announced grandly.
"Ahh… It's very nice…Thank you." Tezuka nodded gratefully in their direction.
"Ore-sama has always had exceptional taste… Ne Kabaji?"
"Uss…"
Tezuka received a pair of expensive looking white jeans from the Rikkaidai boys; Momo and Eiji snickered as they pictured their buchou in them. (Author's note: OMG HOT DON'T YOU THINK??)
The Fudomine boys had bought him a new tennis bag that was embossed with his name, while the Rokkaku Chuu team had got him a designer shoe bag and a customized t-shirt with his name on it as well.
His last team gift from the Yamabuki team was a beautifully bounded book on the history of tennis and the various profiles of Grand Slam winners up to date.
"I closed my eyes and picked the best one! Lucky!" Sengoku called out.
Tezuka gave his thanks while Fuji helped him rewrap the presents and stash them into Tezuka's bag.
For the next half an hour or so, the various teams paused to take photos with Tezuka and made the Seigaku buchou promise to keep in touch before taking their leave.
As the last member of the Fudomine team tumbled out, Fuji gave them a wave and a smile as he turned and closed the door.
"Now's the time to open our present ne Tezuka!" Oishi pushed the pile towards his buchou.
"Minna…Hontoni arigatou gozaimashita." He looked at each one of them in all seriousness.
"Ii ka… Open your presents won't you?" Fuji smiled and nodded towards the pile.
"Ahh buchou! That's mine and Echizen's! Hope you like it!" Momo said enthusiastically as Tezuka began opening a box.
It was a digital camera.
"For buchou to take photos of himself and send back to us…" Echizen added as Tezuka opened his mouth to say something, clearly preparing to lecture them on spending too much on this present. Eiji sniggered at Echizen's comment.
Tezuka settled on glaring at them sternly before proceeding to the next present.
"Fuusshuu… That one is from Inui-sempai and me, buchou…"
It was a mini music player.
"You should have known better than to spend so much money… All of you."
Tezuka looked as if the veins in his head would pop as he dutifully looked at Inui and Kaidoh as strictly as he could. Manners prevailed after seconds of glaring and he thanked them.
"Nya! Open ours already!" Eiji grabbed the present he was sharing with Oishi and dumped it unceremoniously into Tezuka's lap.
It turned out to be a mini tea set, with Tezuka's favourite tea leaves sitting in an elegant box next to the small Japanese teapot.
"Since you like to brew and drink tea so much, Eiji and I decided that this would be a good gift for you… It's portable, light and not easy to break… Do you like it?" Oishi looked at him worriedly, waiting for approval.
Breaking into a small rare smile, Tezuka nodded at him.
"Ahh… I look forward to using it…"
"Nanja hoi hoi! I knew buchou would like it! He belongs in ancient times nya!"
Kawamura's gift turned out to be a sushi shaped alarm clock cum radio, "to remind you of all the times spent in my dad's sushi place after our matches", he said shyly.
Last but not least, Fuji presented him with a large self-designed photo album along with the paper bag containing the coat and gloves.
"Look at the photo album later ne?" Fuji requested quietly.
"Ahh…"
Fishing out the coat and gloves, Tezuka looked at them appreciatively before Eiji and Momo started bugging him to try them on.
Giving in to their noisy pleas, Tezuka shrugged on the coat. It was a good fit and everyone commented on how it suited Tezuka. Fuji was delighted as he watched his team mates prance around Tezuka, forcing their buchou into taking pictures with them. Tezuka looked magnificent with the coat on and Fuji found his vision magnetically drawn to the former as he reluctantly posed for photographs.
"Fujiko! What are you doing? Come join us! I'll take the picture nya!"
With that, Eiji dragged Fuji into the group and strategically pushed his best friend next to Tezuka.
Giggling to himself, Eiji focused the camera on Fuji and Tezuka before it clicked and locked the two faces in a photographic memory for eternity.
/thethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutloveis\
After an hour or so of lazing around, chatting and endless photo-taking, it was time for Tezuka to leave for the airport and the Seigaku regulars prepared to send him off.
"Fujiko! Hurry up nya!"
"Where did Fuji-sempai disappear to?" Momo asked quizzically.
"I'll go get him nya!"
"Fu-ji-ko! Come on! We're all waiting for you!"
"I don't think I'm going, Eiji." Fuji was sitting at the edge of his desk, staring at the picture Eiji had taken of Tezuka and himself an hour ago.
"Fujiko… Are you…very sad nya? Ahh gomen… That was a dumb question to ask… Demo, don't you want to see him off?"
Hot tear gathered in the tensai's eyes, but Fuji forced them back.
I refuse to cry.
Eiji sat down beside him and gently patted his shoulders.
I don't want to cry.
"Fujiko… I'm sorry I can't do anything to make you feel better now except lend you my shoulders to cry on nya…"
I must not shed tears; that is the defeat of the body by the heart
"Shinpainai Eiji… I'm not going to cry. But I really don't want to send him off ne… It will only make it more painful for me, do you understand?"
Nodding sadly, Eiji said, "Wakata ne Fujiko-chan… I'll stay with you then. I'll go down and make some excuse ok?"
"Mnn… Arigatou, Eiji."
/thethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutloveis\
"Minna-san! Gomen ne! Fujiko isn't feeling too well so I'll stay behind with him nya!" Eiji said as he reached the waiting group.
"Ahh? Is Fuji alright?" Oishi asked in concern.
"He's having a bad headache. I'll stay with him and help clean up too…" Eiji gave Oishi a look.
"Souka… I'll stay behind and help take care of things too then, the rest of you go ahead or else Tezuka's going to be late for his flight." Oishi caught the meaning behind the look and quickly sent the team on their way.
"I should say bye to Fuji then…" Tezuka glanced towards Fuji's bedroom, only to find the tensai standing at the stairs.
"Jya ne, Tezuka…"
"Ahh, jya, Fuji."
Turning, Tezuka joined his waiting team. Not knowing why he felt disappointed that Fuji would not be sending him off, Tezuka gathered his luggage and headed out the door.
Reaching the end of the walkway, he could not resist the urge to turn back and look at the Fuji residence one more time before strolling off briskly once again.
Back in the Fuji residence, a lone tear fell from the pale oval of Fuji Syusuke's face.
In the end, my heart won my body.
"Sayounara, Tezuka."
/thethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutlovethethingaboutloveis\
hitsugayasugar hearts TezukaFuji - Minna, hope you enjoyed this chapter, hit me with a reply on your thoughts for this chap NYA! Nanja HOI HOI! (:
PS - hitsugayasugar says: Go to youtube and search "Love design Tezuka Fuji" I promise you that you won't regret watching it. Don't worry, it's adorable and quite chaste -winks-
maldita08 - WHOA HO! hahahah sankyuus for reading and reviewing ne! heh.. Mizuki made Fuji mad! So it is justified for Fuji, my sexy sadist, oops, sorry. I meant, Tezuka's sexy sadist to take a little revenge :D Can't say more on the upcoming story though... I'd really hate to spoil my perfectly crafted plot! (runs off to toilet to puke) -huggles-
vierblith - hahahah of course there will always be burning lovee ne! TezukaFuji are so HOT they practically start a forest fire and put erupting volcanoes to shame. I hearts your ramblings hahahah -hugs you back- and yes Yumiko-neesan is like their love advisor cum counsellor person. She's scary in a very good way, like Tezuka-sama's Fuji Syusuke (:
faithlane - hey there! hahahah sure there'll be updates! I'm not going to stop till this story's all done and finished and WOOHOO. hahaha so I hope you continue reading and reviewing this too yea:D
1FujiEijiLover - hey hey! hahahah yea that was oh-so-sweet of Fuji right! Makes me want to kiss him. But I'll leave all that mushy-gooey stuff for Tezuka to do ne... Or buchou might attack me with his tennis racket. -sends you hugs then scampers off-
Tensa Zangetsu .15 - OOH I take it from your pen name that you watch Bleach ne! WOOHOO! Ichigo!! Hitsugaya!! (Getting high already) hahahah sorry going off-track. anyway thanks for reading and reviewing yea :D I couldn't agree more that TezukaFuji look beautiful together -Sighs dramatically-
Animestar73 - AWW thank you thank you so much for your support nya! Hope you liked this chapter! OMFG hahahah I am going to write my best so as not to let you down ne! -Looks at screen with 110 percent determination- Hearts you uber much! -huggles-
CandiedKisses - Hahaha yea TezukaFuji equals PERFECTION! They are like smoking hot together don't you agree?! WOOHOO! (sorry, I get really high when I talk about TezukaFuji!) Thanks alot for reading and reviewing nya! Hope you liked this chapter hoi:D